In the dark of winter, we celebrate with lights. Hanukah - also known as Hag HaUrim (the festival of lights) - is a time to brighten our homes and our hearts as we look to the sun's return after the new year. We Jews join many cultures in marking the winter darkness with a celebration of light.

What better time than now to think about our use of energy and the materials we use to give us light, warmth, electricity and power. The following eight actions - one for each night of Hanukkah - are steps that you too can take to conserve energy, slow global climate change, save money and reflect on our good fortune to live in a world where the simple flicking of a switch can banish the darkness.

From the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life

1. Let there be sustainable light. Change one regular bulb in your home to a CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light). CFLs last ten times longer than standard bulbs (making their slightly higher cost irrelevant) and use only a quarter of the energy to produce the same amount of light. It is estimated that the replacement of three bulbs in every American home with CFLs would eliminate 23 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

2. Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120F). Water heaters are the second largest energy consumers in all homes. With heaters set at maximum (140F) most of us need to dilute the hot water by turning on the cold tap as well.

3. Lower your thermostat three degrees. By lowering your thermostat 3 degrees, you can cut your energy use by 10%.

4. Skip a car trip. Automobiles are responsible for about a third of American greenhouse gas emissions. Although the trend is toward larger vehicles (SUVs and minivans) most of us spend most of our time driving alone. Carpooling, buying locally and using public transportation, even once, will help dramatically.

5. Start a scrap paper file. More than 40% of all waste in US landfills is paper products. Even thought many towns in the area recycle, we still through away an awful lot of paper. Use the backs for drafts, notes, and shopping lists and then recycle!

6. Give your home a Hanukah gift from Energy Star. Energy Star is a program of the EPA and the US Department of Energy to label and promote the use of energy efficient appliances and products. Companies can only use the Energy star logo if their product is significantly more efficient than government standards. When out shopping for that refrigerator, dishwasher, TV, DVD or stereo, choose one with the energy Star label.

7. Write a letter to the President or Congress. In addition to the work we can do in our homes, we can push the government to change our nation's energy policy to effectively reduce consumption and promote alternative fuels and sustainable development. Let them know about the steps you've taken in your home and urge them to make changes in our nation's home.

8. Have a candlelight dinner. Roughly one-fourth of all electricity in the US is used for lighting - $37 billion worth! Shut off all the lights one night and enjoy your latkes by the glow of a fully lit Hanukah and some extra holiday candles.

Wishing you and yours a Hag HaUrim Sameah - Happy Hanukah and a Happy Thanksgiving!

B'Shalom
Rabbi Elyse

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